The Minnesota Canoe Association offers a variety of canoe and kayak plans plus a book on canoe building. To select the right design you, consider the primary use of the boat. Will it be for wilderness trips or day outings or racing; for rivers or for lakes; with what kind of load? Pick the plan best suited for your own use. Plans are in 18"x 24" blueprint paper folded flat for shipping. The canoe plans are for cedar strip construction and one of the kayak plans is for tack-and-tape plywood assembly. The MCA Canoe Builders Book is a comprehensive guide to strip-canoe building with lots of photographs and drawings. Each boat listed is described briefly, and measurements are given for the overall length, maximum width or beam, width at the 4" waterline, depth at the center, and bow height. Measurements are of the plan itself - the actual boat will be slightly larger due to the thickness of the hull.
MCA's new kayak plan. - The Polar Star
MCA's newest 18' X 22" sea kayak that blends beauty with function. It has an asymmetrical hull with the cockpit significantly aft of the center. This gives the best hull efficiency, dry ride, and a neutral hull in terms of side wind. A slightly rounded hull cross-sections amidships flaring to a V hull at the ends. Has 1æ" bow rocker and 1º" stern rocker, with a 16' waterline at 200lb load. Designed by Ray Klebba.
MCA TANDEM CANOES
The Guide: The first of the MCA designs and still poplar after all these years! Its traditional design likes like most peoples idea of a canoe. It has a flat bottom, tumblehome sides, moderately high ends, slightly recurved stems, a graceful sheer line, and can be guilt in three different lengths. It's a good family tripper. Designed by A.C. Momsen. length 16', 17', or 18'1/2" beam 33" waterline 31" depth 12 3/8" bow height 19"
The Osprey: A redesigned guide with the tumblehome removed, the stems plumb rather than recurved, flare added to the hull, but the rocker remains the same. It is a good camper or day tripper. Designed by Mike Zapf. length 17' beam 33 " waterline 32 " depth 12 " bow height 19"
Explorer: This is a shallow arched hull with recurved ends, no rocker, and no tumblehome. It can be built in two lengths and makes for tripping or race training. Designed by Karl Ketter.
Modified Explorer: The Explorer with plumb ends and can be built in different lengths or depths for a higher volume boat. length 17' or 18' beam 34" waterline 28" depth 12" bow height 18"
BWCA Cruiser: This is an asymmetrical design with the widest part of the hull being behind the center of the boat. It has some tumblehome, slight rocker, flatter bottom, shallow draft, and has high initial stability. Length 18' beam 35" waterline 32" depth 11" bow height 18"
The USCA Racer: This meets the 4 & 32 U.S Canoe Association measurement rule for citizen class racing. Slightly asymmetrical, slightly rockered, flat bottom hull. Can be used as a performance tripping hull. length 18" beam 33" waterline 31" depth 11" bow height 15". Hull depth can be varied.
MCA SOLO BOATS
Sandpiper: A shallow arch hull with no rocker and moderate tumblemone, for the smaller paddler. Designed by Shirley Kysilko. length 12' 4" beam 26" waterline 25" depth 10" bow height 16"
SEA KAYAKS
MCA's new kayak plan. - The Polar Star. MCA's newest 18' X 22" sea kayak that blends beauty with function. It has an asymmetrical hull with the cockpit significantly aft of the center. This gives the best hull efficiency, dry ride, and a neutral hull in terms of side wind. A slightly rounded hull cross-sections amidships flaring to a V hull at the ends. Has 1æ" bow rocker and 1º" stern rocker, with a 16' waterline at 200lb load. Designed by Ray Klebba.
The Simplicity Sea Kayak: This is an way to build tack-and-tape boat that is very stable on the water. IT can be built using only three sheets of marine or other thin plywood in about a third the time needed for wood strip The plans include drawings and building instructions. Design by Bob Brown. Length 16' width 27"
Building Director - Al Gustaveson
If you have questions about boat building, e-mail the Building Director at building@canoe-kayak.org
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